Stephen and All Saints day

Americans admire bold witnesses to the truth. Our nation was and is built upon people who stand for truth and justice. We teach these values to our children and grandchildren.

The New Testament tells of a man named Stephen who brought a bold witness to his generation. Stephen was not an ordained clergyman but a layman who shone like the sun with a message from the Son of God. He spoke to his own Jewish people about their history, God’s guidance, and their Savior. You can read his wonderful sermon in the early chapters of the book of Acts. God’s Word disturbs the comfortable and comforts the disturbed. Stephen did just this.

We have a picture of Stephen in our Church. One of the children asked, “What are all those little clouds around him?” I replied to the child, “Those aren’t clouds, they are big rocks which are being thrown at him.” It seems like many bold people who stand for truth and justice are stoned rather than applauded. No greater witness from heaven could be given than God the Father sending His only Son to save us from our lack of truth and justice. As Gregory Peck says in his book “The People of the Lie,” church people as all people have a lot of untruths in them. None of us has walked a just and truthful life by God’s holy standards. Neither have we walked humbly before our God as the prophet Micah exhorts. We deserve the stones of God’s wrath in Hell. Stephen’s words were the same as those of the Lord Jesus who died for him, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” Those words are for you, living on this side of heaven.

God has mercy by bearing our sin on the cross and declaring us totally righteous. In Jesus you can be bold, truthful and just, for “He has made all things new”. This reality equips for a rich life now and a glorious one to come. This Sunday our congregation celebrates “All Saints Day”. We remember the Saints gone before us and all around us in worship and around the world.

See you Sunday.

(Grace Lutheran Church is located at 711 N. Fowler St. Bishop. Sunday services are at 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (760) 872-9791.)